AIM 

4/20/23 

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Joint Rescue Coordination Center 

Hawaii 

Honolulu Joint Rescue Coordination Center 

HQ 14th CG District 

Honolulu 

Phone 

Commercial 

808

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541

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2500 

DSN 

448

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0301 

f.  Emergency and Overdue Aircraft. 

1. 

ARTCCs and FSSs will alert the SAR system when information is received from any source that an 

aircraft is in difficulty, overdue, or missing. 

(a) 

Radar facilities providing radar flight following or advisories consider the loss of radar and radios, 

without service termination notice, to be a possible emergency. Pilots receiving VFR services from radar 

facilities should be aware that SAR may be initiated under these circumstances. 

(b) 

A filed flight plan is the most timely and effective indicator that an aircraft is overdue. Flight plan 

information is invaluable to SAR forces for search planning and executing search efforts. 

2. 

Prior to departure on every flight, local or otherwise, someone at the departure point should be advised 

of your destination and route of flight if other than direct. Search efforts are often wasted and rescue is often 

delayed because of pilots who thoughtlessly takeoff without telling anyone where they are going. File a flight 

plan for 

your

 safety. 

3. 

According to the National Search and Rescue Plan, “The life expectancy of an injured survivor decreases 

as much as 80 percent during the first 24 hours, while the chances of survival of uninjured survivors rapidly 

diminishes after the first 3 days.” 

4. 

An Air Force Review of 325 SAR missions conducted during a 23

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month period revealed that “Time 

works against people who experience a 

distress

 but are not on a flight plan, since 36 hours normally pass before 

family concern initiates an (alert).” 

g.  VFR Search and Rescue Protection. 

1. 

To receive this valuable protection, 

file a VFR or DVFR Flight Plan

 with an FAA FSS. For maximum 

protection, file only to the point of first intended landing, and refile for each leg to final destination. When a 

lengthy flight plan is filed, with several stops en route and an ETE to final destination, a mishap could occur on 

any leg, and unless other information is received, it is probable that no one would start looking for you until 30 

minutes after your ETA at your final destination. 

2. 

If you land at a location other than the intended destination, report the landing to the nearest FAA FSS 

and advise them of your original destination. 

3. 

If you land en route and are delayed more than 30 minutes, report this information to the nearest FSS and 

give them your original destination. 

4. 

If your ETE changes by 30 minutes or more, report a new ETA to the nearest FSS and give them your 

original destination. Remember that if you fail to respond within one-half hour after your ETA at final 

destination, a search will be started to locate you. 

5. 

It is important that you 

close your flight plan IMMEDIATELY AFTER ARRIVAL AT YOUR FINAL 

DESTINATION WITH THE FSS DESIGNATED WHEN YOUR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. The 

pilot is 

responsible 

for closure of a VFR or DVFR flight plan; they are not closed automatically.

 This will prevent 

needless search efforts. 

6. 

The rapidity of rescue on land or water will depend on how accurately your position may be determined. 

If a flight plan has been followed and your position is on course, rescue will be expedited. 

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Emergency Services Available to Pilots